Traveling-grate furnace



(No Model.)

P, H. RICHARDS. TRAVELING GRATE PURNAGE.

No.7527,449. Patented Oct. 16,1894,

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" F. H. RICHARDS.

TRAVBLING @RATE PURNAGB.

No. 527,449. Patented Oct. 16, 18.94c

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F. H. RICHARDS. TRAVBLING GRATE FURNAGB.

No. 527,449. Patented Ot. 16,1894.

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P. H. RICHARDS. TRAVBLING GRATB FURNAGB.

15,527,449 i `lmemedo'.16,1894.

`35 the construction thereof.

verse sectional elevation, taken ou dotted UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCR To ECKLEY B. CCXE, or DRIFTCN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAVELlNG-GRATE FU RNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 527,449, dated October 16, 1894.

Application filed February 20,1894. Serial No. 500,887. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 11i/ty concern: i

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain, new and useful Improvements in Traveling-Grate Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.`

This invention relates to traveling-grate 1o furnaces; the object of the invention being to provide an improved non-rotary traveling x grate, comprising a series of independently movable sections, adapted for carrying a layer of fuel continuously along in the furnace, after the manner of the endless travel- In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecfication, Figure l is a 3o sectional side elevation of a furnace embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, partially in horizontal cross-section, parts of the gratemechanism being broken away to more clearly illustrate Fig. 3 is a transline cL-ct, Fig. 1, showing the parts at the left of said line. Figs. 4, 5 and `6 are detail views, in side elevation, of a portion of one of the 4o grate-sections and the mechanism for imparting the requisite traveling movement to said` section, said figures showing three successive positions of the grate-section and its operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross- 4 5 section of the furnace, showin g thegrate-bars and the licor-plates carried thereby. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the furnace showing the grate-bar actuating` mechanism,the grate-bars being removed;

` Similar characters designate likepartsin 5o all `the figures. A y

For the purpose of illustrating the application and operation of the elements and combinations comprised in my present invention,

I have shown the same in connection with a furnace of the class described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 499,716, granted to Eckley B. Coxe .l une 20, 1893, to which reference may be had for a more complete description of some of the details herein shown 6o and only briefly described.

The furnace illustrated in the drawings has the usual inclosing-walls at the sides and ends thereof, and is shown provided with the ordinary furnace-roof. The side-walls are `designated in a general way by 3 and 4, respectively, the roof by 2, the `usual bridgewall by`5, and the front and back walls by 6 `and 6', respectively. At the forward end of the furnace, this is provided with a fuel sup- 7o ply hopper, H, from which fuel is supplied to the furnace-chamber through the inclined chute or opening 7, in a well-known manner.

The furnace is shown provided with a traveling grate, designated in a general way by G, A and which, in this instance of my invention, comprises a series of independent longitudinal grate-sections, herein shown as six in `number and designated by D, D', E, E', and F, F', respectively. `These grate-sections are go adapted to have longitudinal reciprocatory movements imparted to them, as will be hereinafter described.

Underneath thegrate G is placed an air-` 4blast apparatus, which, in the preferred form 85` thereof herein shown, comprises the successive air-blast chambers a, b and c, constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention described and claimed in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 499,716. Said air-blast ap- 9o paratus is supported by some suitable connection with the side-Walls 3 and 4 of the furnace; and the upper edges of the divisionwalls 8, 8', 8 and 8 of said air-blastappa-m ratus are shown provided` with guides, M, for holding in place and guiding the bars or sec-` tions of the grate G.

In practice, suitable grate-section-supporttions for reducing the friction of said sections as they are moved longitudinally of the furnace.

The air-blast chambers a, b and c are shown provided with air-supply pipes a', b and c', in which may be placed the regulators or valves a, b and c (shown 'by dotted lines in Fig. l) for independently regulating the pressure of the air-blast in the successive airblast chambers, as and for thepurpose more fully set forth in said prior Letters Patent. These pipes a', b and c will be supplied with air from some suitable blower. (Not shown.)

My improved traveling grate comprises a series of longitudinal grate-sections, embodying grate-bars and floor-plates, as hereinafter fully described.` These sectionsV are suitably supported, and are adapted to have, all together (or the major portion'ofthem) a relatively slow forward movement, and to have, successively, a quick-return orv relatively rapid backward movement. 'lheseries of bars are advanced, toward the left-hand in Fig. l, by means of suitable actuating-devices, as will be hereinafter fully described; and during said Ladvancing'movement ofthe majority of the series, the barsjare',` ajportiou of them at a time,'retracted to their original position', 4.Inothe'r words, a quick-return movement is'iinparted to one or more (herein shown as two) of said bars,"whilethe` remaining bars of the seri'es'ha've `a relatively slow advancing movement, or a movement in opposition' to the direction of the return movement. DuringA this `(jmck-return movement of .one or more' of said bars while the majority of bars' have' a movement in the opposite direction, the fuel, resting in a mass, spread in a layer, upon the entire j series `of bars, has a greater resistance upon the several adjacent for-l walldly-,moving bars than it 4has adhesion upon" the` one or more backwardly-moving bars. Therefore the layer or mass-of fuel re- -mains unbroken, and comparatively' unaffected by `tle1'etractiv`e movementof the re1-` atively `few bars, By meansyof this construction ,and organizationlof the mechanism, the" layer, L, of fuel restingon theba'rs is carried,A

uninterruptedly forward towardvthe1 rear end of thefurnace, with a uniform movement coinciding withpthe forward movement of the majority of saidgrate-sections or bars; `thus securing practically the same results yas Vare obtained in'furn'ace's employing an lendless traveling grate', such, for'inst'an'ce, as shown inthe -patent hereinbeforereferred to.

In practice, Vthe proper operation of theV mechanism will be 'facilitated by setting the grate somewhat at an inclinatienuto a horizontal line, with "its discharging-end loi've'rthan its receivin'g-end,asshowny inFig. ll of .the drawings, so as to securetheco-operation of gravity with the forwardly-moving barsto prevent retraction of the fuel by the retracting bars.

In the preferred form thereof herein shown, the grate consists of a series of substantially duplicate longitudinal sections, D, DA', E, E', F, F', arranged side by side, preferably in the same plane; and each section consists of a longitudinal grate-bar, or floor-plate supporting beam, 12, and a series of floor-plates, 13, removably secured to the upper side of said grate-bar or beam, as hereinafter described. These grate-bars will, preferably, be in the nature of channel-beams, each having sideiianges, l5, 16, connected at their upper edges by a web, or plate, having a series of perforations, or iloor-plate-receiving sockets, formed therein, and also having remotely-disposed transverse flanges, 18 and 19, at one end thereof, for a purpose hereinafter described; this construction being most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 ofthe drawings.

The Hoor-plates 13 will preferably have ltheir upper fuel-supporting facesslightly inclined longitudinally, as shown in Fig. l, and will be constructed so that' one end of one .plate will partially overlap the other end of ythe next adjacent door-plate of the series, as rshown in said figure.

n Each floor-plate will be provided with astem, 13', preferably integral therewith and adapted to fit the opening orsocket, 20, formed in theweb 17 of the grate-bar 12. ably be'of Width slightly greater than the width of the grate-bars', and each will, as

shown in Fig. 2, bev provided with a projection, 13, at one side thereof, tobearagainst vthe side face of the floor-plate of the next adjacent section; this construction forming air- Vspaces, 2l, intermediate tothe plates of adjacent sections, through which air maybe supplied to the fuel upon said floor-plates.

The construction of grate-bars and floor-` `plates herein described may be somewhat varied Without departing from my invention.

Asa ,means for imparting a slow forward movement to the successive gratesections, and also for `imparting a quick-return movement to a portion of the grate-sections as the balance thereof are moved forward, andto inaugurate said quick-'return movement by .24 being carried by the shaft 28"as clearly shownin'Figs'. 1 and 2), `the cams` 29, 3,0 and 3l carried bythe shaft ,32- and adapted for actuating the vseries of levers, andmr'neans, substantially as` hereinafter described, for actuating said shaft to rotate the cams. l The cam-shaft 32 is hereinvshown supported in Suitable bearingsin theside walls of the furnace structure at the forward end thereof" These hoor-plates will prefer- IOO IIO

-imparting a sudden blow to the grate-bar I and below the end of the grate-sections; and

. the three rock-shafts 26, 27 and 28 `are located side by side intermediate to the cam-shaft and grate-sections, and are, also, supported in suitable bearings in the side walls of the furnace-structure. i This cam-shaft is herein shown as provided with three duplicate cams, 29, 30 and 31, preferably of the spiral type, each of which has'a quickdrop or let-off portion, 33. These cams are, preferably, secured to the shaft in different positions relatively to each other, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

The levers 22, 23 and 24, which actuate the rock-shafts 26, 27 and 28, respectively, have downwardly-projecting arms, 22, 23 and 24, which are preferably furnished `with bearing-rollers, 22'", 23" and 24', at their ends, which rollers bear against the cam-,faces of the cams 29, 30 and 31, respectively. The upwardly-projecting arms of these levers movably engage the grate-bars of the gratesections E', F and D', respectively, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, said upwardly-projecting arms extending between the transverse flanges 18 and 19 at the ends of said gratebars, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1.

Secured to the shaft 26 which is actuated by the lever 22, is a rocking arm or short le ver, 22', which engages the grate-bar of the grate-section D. Secured to the shaft 27 that is actuated by the lever 23 is the rocking arm or short lever 23', which is connected with the grate-bar of the section E', and secured to the shaft 28 that is actuated by the lever 24 is the arm or lever 24', which is connected to the grate-bar of the section F; all of said levers being connected to their respective grate-bars in a like manner.

It will be noticed, by reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, that the upper end of each actuating-leveris so connected with the grate-bar which it actuates as to have a limited amount of free movement, or play, longitudinally thereof, at s, between the transverse flanges 18-and 19. The object of this construction or slack-connection is to enable the lever, on its retractive movement, to impart a sudden blow to the grate-bar to start the same when the lower end of said lever passes the let-o point of the actuating cam. y By means of this device, whereby the grate-bar is struck a blow when it is started back, any tendency of the grate-bar to stick or bind will be overcome, and the quick retraction thereof will, therefore, be facilitated.

As a means for retaining the levers or slack connected grate-bar-actuators 22, 23 and 24 in close contact with their respective actuating-cams, each of the shafts 26, 27 and 28 is provided at its ends with a weighted arm, 35. By this organization and arrangement of cams and grate-bar-actuating levers, it will be seen that each cam and the lever contiguous thereto operate two grate-sections of the series, and that only two of said Sections have a return movement simu1tane- `wall 4 of the furnacestructure, said shaft 42 being provided with a suitable driving-pulley, 44, at one end thereof, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The herein-described grate-mechanism for furnaces, it comprising a series of longitudinally reciprocatory grate-sections, levers carried by rock-shafts and connected with said sections, and means for actuating said rock-shafts to impart a relatively slow forward and a quick return movement to said sections successively, substantially as described. l 2. The herein described grate-mechanism, it comprising a seriesof longitudinally-disl posed reciprocatory grate-sections, and means in connection with, and adapted for imparting a relatively slow advancing and a relatively rapid retractive movement to said sections, and consisting of a series of cams and a series of slack-connected actuators connecting said cams and grate-sections, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described grate-mechanism, it comprising a series of longitudinally-disposed independently operable grate-sections and means consisting vof a series of cams counected with said grate-sections by slack-com nected actuators in position and adapted for imparting a relatively slow advancing movement to some of said sections and a relatively rapid retractive movement to others of said sections, simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. The herein-described grate-mechanism for furnaces, it comprising a series of longitudinally reeiprocatory grate-bars each of which has a series of removable floor-plates, a series of rock-shafts adjacent to one end of said grate-bars, levers carried by said rockshafts in engagement with the grate-bars, spiral cams having quick-drop or let-0E p0rtions, levers in operative connection with said cams and rock-shafts, weighted levers connected with said rock-shafts to retain the levers in contact with their respective cams, and means for rotating said cams, whereby the grate-bars are reciprocated, substantially as described and for the 'purpose set forth.

5. In a furnace, the combination with a series of longitudinally reciprocatory grate-sections arranged side by side in parallelism to form a furnace-iioor, and with a series of cams and their actuating mechanism, of a plurah ity of rock-shafts intermediate to said cams and grate-sections, a plurality of levers fixed to each rock-shaft andoperatively connected with the ends of remotely-dispo sed grate-sec- IOO IOS

` tions, a series of levers fixed one to each rockshaft and bearing at its' opposite end against all of said levers in operative engagement with said cams, substantially as described.

6. The herein described grate-mechanism for furnaces, it comprising a series of longitudinally reciprocatory bars, a series of levers carried by rock-shafts and connected to said bars so as to have a limited amount of free movement longitudinally thereof, and means in position and adapted for operating said rock-shafts to impart a relatively slow advancing movement and relatively rapid retractive movement to the bars, independently or successively, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth.

7. The herein described grate-mechanism for furnaces, it comprising a series of gratesections, a series of levers carried by rockshafts and connected With said grate-sections to have a' limited amount of longitudinal movement independently thereof, a series of cams in connection With said levers and havinglet-olpcrtions substantially as described, means for retaining the levers in operative connection with the cams, and means for rotating said cams to simultaneously advance certain of said sections With a relatively slow movement and retract others of said sections with arelatively rapid movement, substantially as set forth.

8. In a grate mechanism of the class specilied, in combination a grate-bar supported for reciprocatory movement, a cam havinga quick-drop or let-od portion, means for operating said cam, and a slack-connected gratebar-actuator operatively connected with the grate-bar and cam and adapted, in connection with one portion of the cam to impart a relatively slow advancing movement to the grate-bar, and in connection With the let-ott portion ofthe cam to impart a sudden blow to the grate-bar to inaugurate the quick-return movement of said grate-bar, substantially as described.

9. In a gratemechanism of the class specilied, in combination a series of longitudinally reciprocatory grate-bars adapted to have a relatively slow advancing movement and a quick-return movement, a series of slack-connected grate-bar-actuators, a series of cams adapted for imparting, through the medium of the grate-bar-actuators, a relatively slow advancing movement to said grate-bars, and having quick-drop or let-oft portions in position and adapted Vfor imparting a sudden movement to the grate-bar-actuators,V separately or successively, whereby a sudden blovvr is imparted to the grate-bars to inaugurate the quick return movement thereof, and

means for operatingsaid cams, substantially as described. l l0. In a grate-mechanism of the class specitied, a grate-bar supported for reciprocatory movement, a grate-bar-actuating lever fulcrumed upon arock-shaft and havingaslackconnection at its upper end With the grate bar, a cam having a quick-drop or let-oft portion in position and adapted for imparting a sudden reciprocat-ory movement to the gratebar-actuating lever to cause the same to impart a sudden retracting-blow to the grate-bar vand means for operating said cam, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, FREDERICK A. BOLAND. 

